breaston, evans, campbell and pennigton are on the trading block
Manu Ginobili: This is where things get at least a little interesting. Ginobili is already 35, and his deal expires after next season. The Spurs could in theory carve out max-level cap room next summer by renouncing all of their free agents, including Ginobili and Tiago Splitter, whose cap holds swallow up all of the team’s potential cap room as things stand now; Ginobili’s hold will be big enough to do the job on its own.
Paul Pierce: The Celtics have flirted with moving Pierce, most famously toward the end of the 2006-07 season and reportedly last year before the trade deadline. Pierce has two years left on his deal, but only $5 million of his $15.3 million salary in 2013-14 will be guaranteed by the time the 2013 offseason rolls around. That cuts both ways: On the one hand, the Celtics have spent so much on salary over the next three seasons that slicing Pierce’s deal away early wouldn’t provide meaningful cap room in next summer’s free-agent market. And they’ve already spent enough on 2014-15 salary that they might be right up against the cap in the summer of 2014 even before considering any future deal for Pierce, or his cap hold.
But if things are going well in Miami, it’s hard to see any of them — and especially the oldest one, Wade — turning down $20 million to enter free agency. The three stars have player options for about $22 million apiece for 2015-16, meaning it will again be up to them whether they want to stay.
It has been an eventful offseason for Joe Johnson, whose trade from Atlanta to Brooklyn clinched the re-signing of Deron Williams and sparked mixed reactions among diehard Atlanta fans. Right now, Johnson is one of about a dozen NBA players going through a week-long “boot camp” with trainer Manning Sumner at Sumner’s Legacy Fit facility in Miami. Johnson took some time before a workout to chat with SI.com about the last few months and what comes next in Brooklyn. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation:
It’s just a mindset that you have to embed in those guys. Everyone knows Kris Humphries is a relentless rebounder, and I think both him and Brook Lopez can be good defenders, man. It’s just going to take some time and some communication. It’s going to depend on how bad they want it. But I think everyone is inspired right now by this Brooklyn thing. I know I’m excited. I’m doing things I’ve never done before as far as working out and preparing myself.
I’m really just training a lot more this summer, with a lot more focus, and being down here with Manning really helps. My role is going to change a lot playing with the Nets, and I’m fine with that. I just want to be prepared for that situation. I want to start on a positive note.
Once upon a time, Tracy McGrady was considered to be one of the best players in the NBA. The seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion seemed destined to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and Kobe Bryant, some of the most electrifying scorers in the history of the NBA, but he never quite lived up to that billing.
Given how far his game has fallen off – he hasn’t averaged double figures since 2008-09 in Houston – teams are looking at him as a veteran presence more than a scoring threat, and he isn’t inspiring confidence in teams looking for a veteran voice.
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Given how far his game has fallen off – he hasn’t averaged double figures since 2008-09 in Houston – teams are looking at him as a veteran presence more than a scoring threat, and he isn’t inspiring confidence in teams looking for a veteran voice.
rewr
McGrady is still looking for a job, and has interviewed with the Charlotte Bobcats already this offseason. Reports indicate that he is also being considered by the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, though it’s questionable whether either team would give him the guaranteed money he’s looking for.rfr32
i need a qb and wr.